Freshman (2014): Saw action in three JV games ... Was named to the 2014 PFL Academic Honor Roll.

Prior to Stetson: Attended Jireh Prep in Charlotte, NC, for a year of post-graduate work.

High School: Was a two-year letter winner at quarterback for coach Jay Campos at Sabino HS after lettering for two years at Amphi HS ... Also lettered in track as both a sprinter and thrower for four years ... Lettered in basketball for two years ... Led his team to a 10-1 record in 2013, losing in the state semifinals ... Squad was 11-2 in 2012 before also losing in state semis ... Overall in his career he led his team to a combined 38-8 record and three state playoff appearances ... In basketball, his team went 29-3 in the 2009-10 season, finishing as state runner-up ... Honors included being named Class 4A Division 2 Player of the Year, earning Player of the Week honors for that Division 10 times, being named All-City and NUC All-American ... Was rated as one of the top 10 quarterbacks in the west ... Competed in martial arts, twice earning world titles and winning eight national titles ... Best performance his senior season included 276 yards passing and 251 yards rushing with six touchdowns ... Posted a national top 10 in the shot in 2013 with a throw of 63.5 feet ... Chose Stetson over a host of schools, including Princeton, Cornell, Yale, Dayton, Butler, Northwestern and others ... Was a four-year honor roll student who graduated with a 4.2 GPA.

Personal: Full name is Gaven Kaleb DeFilippo ... Was born on February 23, 1995, in Tucson ... Is the son of Jean DeFilippo and Mark Nickel ... His cousin, John DeFilippo, is the offensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns ... He played QB at James Madison from 1996-2000 ... Another cousin, Gene DeFilippo, Jr., played at Springfield College from 1970-73 and recently retired as the Director of Athletics at Boston College after having served in the same role at Villanova ... His great uncle, Gene DeFilippo, Sr., played college football at Holy Cross in 1946-47 ... Another great uncle, Lou DeFilippo, played at Fordham University before a career in the NFL for the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts from 1941-48 ... His cousin Lou DeFilippo, Jr., played at Purdue from 1962-65 ... Is a Business Administration major.